Method of making sheet metal stampings



March 5, s. A. SNELL I METHOb OF MAKING SHEET METAL STAMPINGS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Nov. 15, 193'! INVENTOR SAMUEL A.$NELL ATTORNEYS L L E N S A S METHOD OF MAKING SHEET METAL STAMPINGS Griginal Filed Nov 15, 1937 4 Shuts-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY smu EL A. SNELL I ATTORNEY:

March 5 1940. s. A. susu.

METHOD OF MAKING SHEET METAL STAMPINGS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed NOV. 15, 193'? EdE a L L E N s A L E U M A S w m 4 96.. mm NNQE Qwc .N s ioi ATTORNEYS.

March 5, 1940 S. A. SNELL METHOD OF MAKING SHEET METAL STAMPINGS Griginal Filud Nov. 15, 193'! 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 PIC-3.25.

INVEN TOR SAMUEL A.$NELL ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 5, 1940 v UNITED STATES METHOD OF MAKING SHEET METAL STAMPINGS Samuel A. Snell, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to The American-National Company, Toledo, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Original application June 20, 1938, Serial No. 214,761, which is a division of application Serial No. 174,705, November 15, 1937..

Divided and this application January 9, 1939, Serial No.

11 Claims. (01. 113-116 This invention relates generally to the method of making sheet metal stampings, especially those for use in the construction of juvenilevehicle bodies of the type in which a child rides g and constitutes a division of my application filed June 20, 1938, bearing Serial No. 214,761 which is a division of my application filed November 15, 1937, bearing Serial No. 174,705.

One of the essential objects of the invention 1!; is to form simultaneously two complete stampings such as two front end units or two rear end units of juvenile vehicle bodies from one sheet of metal.

Another object is to provide a maximum num- 15 *ber of parts with a minimum number of drawing operations. I

Other objects, advantages and novel details of construction of this invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, espe- 20 cially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an edge elevation of the sheet metal blank from which two front end units are I formed; 25 Figure 2 is an edge elevation of the sheet after the initial drawing operation;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the sheet after the final drawing operation;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but 30 showing the openings provided in the fenders for wheel clearance;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing the out that is made in the structure to separate the two units from one another; 3' Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, but

, showing the units after the lower edges thereof have been trimmed;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 after the metal of the units at their lower edges has been turned inwardly to provide reinforcing flanges;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 2;

45 Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 99 of Figure 3;

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on theline Ill-l0 of Figure 4;

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken on the line 50 ll-H of Figure 5;

Figure 12 is a sectional View takenon the line l2l2 of Figure 6;

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken on the line I3|3 of Figure 7;

55 Figure 14 is an edge elevation of the sheet 1 metal blank from which two rear end sections are formed; I v I Figure 15 is an edge elevation of the sheet illustrated in Figure 14 after the initial drawing a 1 operation; 5

showing the units after their lower edges have 1 been trimmed; I

Figure is a View similar to Figure 19, but showing the units after their lower edges have been flanged inwardly; v

Figure 21 is a sectional view taken on the 20 line 2l2| of Figure 15;

Figure 22 is a sectional View taken on the line 22-22 of Figure 16; H

Figure 23 is a sectional view taken on the line 23--23 of Figure 17;

Figure 24 is a sectional view taken on the line 24-24 of Figure 18;

Figure 25 is a sectional view taken on the line 2525 of. Figure 19;

Figure 26 is a sectional view taken on the line 2926 of Figure 20;

Figure 27 is a side elevation of one front end unit and one rear end unit spaced apart before the intermediate side sections are welded thereto;

Figure 28 is a side elevation of thecomplete vehicle body made in accordance with my invention.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figure 28 thereof, A is the front end unit, B is the rear end unit, and C are the intermediate side sections of :the juvenile vehicle body made in accordance with my invention. As shown, the front end unit A is complete and comprises the arched hood I, the rounded front wall 2, and the substantially parallel depending side walls 3 provided with outwardly projecting fender portions 4 of inverted substantially L-con figuration. Inturned flanges 5 and 6, respectively, are provided at the lower edges of said sides 3 and fender portions 4 for reinforcing purposes. The rear end unit B is likewise complete and comprises the central seat portion 1, the rear deck 8, and the spaced substantially parallel depending side walls 9 provided with outwardly projecting fender portions 40 of inverted subi edges of said sides 9 and fender portions ID for reinforcing purposes. The intermediate side sections C simulate doors and are welded to the adjacent edges of the front and rear units A and B, respectively, to form the complete body.

In the process of construction, two front end units such as A are drawn from a single sheet 20 of predetermined area. (Figure 1.) Initially the metal of the sheet 28 is drawn at the center to form an inverted trough-shaped portion 2! (Figure 2) for two hoods such as I, and the upper portions of the front end and side walls 2 and 3, respectively, of the units. The metal at the marginal portions of the sheet is then drawn downwardly to form the balance of the front end and side walls 2 and 3, and outwardly to form the fenders i of the units. Following the drawing operations, the outer depending walls ofthe fenders are cut away as at 22 (Figure 4) for wheel clearance. The structure thus far formed is then cut in two substantially midway of its ends as indicated at 23 (Figure 5) to provide two identical front end units. The lower edges of each unit A are then trimmed as at 2 1 (Figure 6) and following the trimming operation the metal of each unit at the lower edges thereof is turned in as illustrated in Figure '7 to provide the reinforcing flanges 5 and 6. Thus, two front end units are provided from the blank 20.

Likewise, two rear end units such as B are drawn from a single sheet 39 of metal (Figure 14). Initially the metal of sheet 30 is drawn at the center to form a substantially rectangular trough 3| (Figure 15). The metal at the marginal portions of the sheet is then drawn out wardly and downwardly as illustrated in Figure 16 to form the upper portions of the decks 8 and side walls 9 of the units, and is subsequently drawn downwardly to form the balance of the decks 8 and side walls 9 and outwardly to form the fenders l8 as illustrated in Figure 17. Following the drawing operations just mentioned the structure so formed is cut in two substantially midway of its ends as indicated at 32 (Figure 18) to provide two identical rear end units. The lower edges of each unit B so formed is then trimmed as at 33 (Figure 19), and following the trimming operations the metal of each unit B at the lower edge thereof is turned in as illustrated in Figure 20 to provide the reinforcing flanges H and I2. Thus, two rear end units B are provided from the single blank til.

After being formed as described, one of the front end units A and one of the rear end units 3 are spaced apart the proper distance according to the width of the intermediate sections C used. The intermediate sections C simulating doors are formed separately as stampings and constitute inserts between these front and rear units A and B, respectively. Such inserts C are then rigidly secured, preferably by welding operations to the adjacent side edges of the spaced front and rear units A and B to complete the vehicle body, as illustrated in Figure 28.

Instead of makingtwo identical front end portions from a single sheet of metal and two identical rear end portions from another sheet for the same model of juvenile automobile body, as described above, I also contemplate making two dissimilar front end portions from one sheet and two dissimilar rear end portions from another sheet in the same manner and sequence described for the manufacture of two different models of juvenile automobile bodies. Thus, one of the front end portions and one of the rear end portions so formed would go into one model, and the other front end portion and rear end portion would go into a different model. As a result, I can manufacture two different models by the same method.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. The method of making .from a single sheet of metal for juvenile vehicle bodies of the type in which a child rides, two rear end units, each having a seat portion and depending rear and side walls with portions of said side walls projecting laterally outward and constituting fenders, including the steps of initially drawing the metal of a single sheet of metal to form the seats of the rear end units, drawing the metal of the sheet to form the upper portions of the rear and side walls of the rear end units, drawing still further the metal of the sheet to form the remainder of the rear and side walls of said rear end units and to form the fenders, cutting the metal of the sheet at a predetermined point to provide two separate rear end units, trimming the lower edges of each of said rear end units so formed to provide edges of predetermined configuration, and finally turning in the edges so formed to provide reinforcing flanges.

2. The method of making from a single sheet of metal for juvenile vehicle bodies of the type in which a child rides, two rear end units, each having a seat portion and depending rear and side walls, including the steps of initially drawing the metal of a single sheet of metal to form the seats of the rear end-units, drawing the metal of the sheet to form the upper portions of the rear and side walls of the rear end units, drawing still further the metal of the sheet to form the remainder of the rear and side walls of the rear end units, and cutting the metal of the sheet at a predetermined point to provide two separate units.

3. The method of making from a single sheet of metal for juvenile vehicle bodies of the type in which a child rides, two rear end units, each having a seat portion and depending rear and side walls, with portions of said side walls projecting laterally outward and constituting fenders, including the steps of initially drawing the metal of a single sheet of metal to form the seats of the rear end units, drawing the metal of the sheet to form the upper portions of the rear and side walls of the rear end units, drawing still further the metal of the sheet to form the remainder of the rear wall and the remainder of the side walls and laterally projecting fender portions, cutting the metal of the sheet at a predetermined point to provide two separate rear end units, and trimming the lower edges of each of the units so formed to provide edges of predetermined configuration.

4. In the manufacture of juvenile vehicle bodies of sheet metal, the steps which comprise: forming a single sheet of metal to a generally trough shaped cross-section, symmetrical relative to a transverse median plane, and having integral portions shaped to provide the seat and integral depending rear and side walls forming the rear end units of said bodies, said rear wall portions being located at opposite ends of said formed sheet, and dividing said formed sheet along said median plane to provide two substantially identical rear end units.

5. In the manufacture of juvenile vehicle bodies of the type in which a child can ride,

each having a rear end unit comprising a central seat portion, a rear deck, and the spaced substantially parallel dependingside walls provided with outwardly projecting fender portions of inverted substantially L configuration, including the steps of initially drawing the metal at the center of one sheet of metal to form a substantially rectangular trough, drawing the metal of the marginal portions of said sheet to form the rear deck and depending side walls provided with fenders, and cutting the metal of said sheet to separate such rear end units so formed from each other.

6. In the manufacture of juvenile vehicle bodies of the type in which a child can ride, each having a rear end unit comprising a central seat portion, a rear deck, and the spaced substantially parallel depending side walls provided with outwardly projecting fender portions of inverted substantially L configuration, including the steps of initially drawing the metal at the center of one sheet of metal to form a substantially rectangular trough, drawing the metal of the marginal portions of said sheet to form the rear deck and depending side walls provided with fenders, cutting the metal of said sheet to separate such rear end units so formed from each other, and trimming the lower edges of said rear deck and side walls of said units.

7. In the manufacture of juvenile vehicle bodies of the type in which a child can ride, each having a rear end unit comprising a central seat portion, a rear deck, and the spaced substantially parallel depending side walls provided with outwardly projecting fender portions of inverted substantially L configuration, including the steps of initially drawing the metal at the center of one sheet of metal to form a substantially rectangular trough, drawing the metal of the marginal portions of said sheet to form the rear deck and depending side walls provided with fenders,-

cutting the metal of said sheet to separate such rear end units so formed from each other, trimming the lower edges of said rear deck and side walls of said units, and turning in the trimmed lower edges of the deck and side walls of said units to provide reinforcing flanges.

8. In the manufacture of juvenile vehicle bodies of the type in which a child can ride, each having a rear end unit comprising a seat and integral depending rear and side walls, the method of making two complete rear end units aforesaid from one sheet of metal, including the steps of initially drawing the metal of the sheet at the center to form a substantially rectangular trough from which the seats are formed, drawing the metal intermediate the center and marginal portions of said sheet outwardly and downwardly to form the upper portions of the rear and side walls or said units, drawing downwardly the marginal portions of the sheet to form the remainder of the rear and side walls of said units, and dividing the sheet transversely at a predetermined point to provide simultaneously two separate rear end units.

9. In the manufacture of juvenile vehicle bodies of the type in which a child can ride, each having a rear end unit comprising a seat and integral depending rear and side walls with portions of said side walls projecting laterally outward and constituting fenders, the method of making two complete rear end units aforesaid from one sheet of metal, including the steps of initially drawing the metal of the sheet at the center to form a substantially rectangular trough from which the seats are formed, drawing the metal intermediate the center and marginal portions of said sheet outwardly and downwardly to form the upper portions of the rear and side walls of said units, drawing downwardly the marginal portions of the sheet to form the remainder of the rear and side walls of said units, drawing outwardly portions of the side walls to form the fenders, and dividing the sheet transversely at a predetermined point to provide simultaneously two separate rear end units.

10. In the manufacture of juvenile vehicle bodies of the type in which a child can ride, each having a rear end unit comprising a seat and integral depending rear and side Walls, the method of making two complete rear end units aforesaid from one sheet of metal, including the steps of initially drawing the metal of the sheet at the center to form a substantially rectangular trough from which the seats are formed, drawing the metal intermediate the center and marginal portions of said sheet outwardly and downwardly to form the upper portions of the rear and side walls of said units, drawing downwardly the marginal portions of the sheet to form the remainder of the rear and side Walls of said units, dividing .ward and constituting fenders, the method of making two complete rear end units aforesaid from one sheet of metaLincluding the steps of initially drawing the metal of the sheet at'the center to form a substantially rectangular trough from which the seats are formed, drawingthe metal intermediate the center and marginal portions of said sheet outwardly and downwardly to form the upper portions of the rear and side walls of said units, drawing downwardly the marginal portions of the sheet to form the remainder of the rear andside walls of said units, drawing outwardly portions of the side walls to form the fenders, dividing the sheet transversely at a predetermined point to provide simultaneously two separate rear end units, and turning in the metal of each unit at its lower edges to provide reenforcing flanges.

SAMUEL A. SNELL. 

